Known for often finding himself on the fringes of the top 10 during MotoGP Fridays, Jack Miller narrowly secured his place in Q2 at Misano, snatching the tenth spot by just 0.1 seconds over his Red Bull KTM team-mate Brad Binder. Miller’s impressive lap came thanks to a strategic tow behind reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, a move that proved critical in avoiding a fight through Q1.
A visibly relieved Miller shared his thoughts after the session, saying, “I’m quite happy with the day, I barely escaped, and that’s how it goes sometimes. I’ve been outside more often than not lately, so it’s nice to be on the other side of the fence. Sorry about my buddy Binder, but he won’t have any problems tomorrow.”
When asked about his daring tow behind Bagnaia, Miller chuckled and added, “I had to risk my life and limb to get there! I even apologized to Johann Zarco because I hit him going into Turn 14, knowing I had to stick with Pecco.”
Miller’s humorous take on his aggressive strategy belied the importance of the move. “It was good to see him [Bagnaia] during the first sector, then he pulled away, but I’m still happy to be in Q2.”
Looking ahead to Saturday, Miller emphasized the importance of using the free practice sessions to refine his race setup. “This takes a decent weight off our shoulders for tomorrow morning, and we can focus on EL3, working on the rhythm and trying to understand what we need for the race. The bike is working well, and the track is in good condition, so we’re working hard to be competitive tomorrow and Sunday.”
Meanwhile, rookie Pedro Acosta turned heads by finishing sixth, making him the top KTM rider of the day, showcasing the depth of talent within the KTM camp.